IL288792A - Shelf system and shelving method - Google Patents

Description

- 1 SHELF SYSTEM AND SHELVING METHOD TECHNOLOGICAL FIELDThe present disclosure is concerned with a shelf system and a method for utilizing same.

BACKGROUND ARTReferences considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below: CA2813410 US 200701408US20181037Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

BACKGROUNDCA2813410 discloses an over-head suspended multi-tiered shelving system which allows for downward deployment and upward retraction of an array of suspended tray assemblies (a.k.a. "shelves") below. The key distinction of the invention is that the shelf trays deploy downward starting with the lowest tray then cascading through upper trays. This upward cascading allows the operator to reach all shelves equally as they each will pass through the operator's optimal ergonomic height for lifting loads. In addition, when fully retracted upwards, the invention provides an effective space-efficient means of storage. The invention can be scaled in many ways including but not limited to: laundry air-drying shelving, or industrial storage racking. US20070140817 relates to a computer-controlled conveyor system, comprising a vertical mast, a displaceable lifting platform disposed on it and a holding table which can be vertically displaced relative to the latter. Disposed on the lifting platform are two 25 - 2 telescopic pushing arms which can be moved towards one another and moved apart from one another to a limited degree and which can be extracted in the direction of a shelf compartments for storing and retrieving the storage aids. In order to convey two storage aids simultaneously, one is deposited on the holding table and the other is deposited on the lifting platform. The holding table has a lifting frame in which an orifice is provided, the length and width of which are bigger than the length and width of each of the telescopic pushing arms retracted towards the lifting platform. The lifting frame can be moved out of the transfer or handover position, lowered so as to be approximately flush with a horizontal support surface of the lifting platform, into the conveying position, and when the holding table is in the transfer or handover position, the two telescopic pushing arms extend through a respective orifice. US2018103781 discloses a shelving system is provided, which includes a plurality of supports, each support of the plurality of supports having a longitudinal opening defining a channel extending from a first end to a second end of the support, the plurality of supports having at least one opening positioned on a surface of the plurality of supports, at least one shelf, the at least one shelf including an extension, the extension being positioned within the channel of each of the plurality of supports to allow a vertical movement of the at least one shelf with respect to the plurality of supports; and an actuator operably coupled to the at least one shelf, wherein actuation of the actuator permits the vertical movement of the at least one shelf within the channel. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.

GENERAL DESCRIPTIONThe present disclosure is concerned with a shelf system configured for efficiently storage of goods, utilizing shelving space at an optimized fashion. In particular, the disclosed shelf system can be utilized in mass-storage facilities, such as warehouses and logistic storage and distribution centers, etc., though not limited thereto, used for storing any sort of goods and articles. The term goods as used here in the specification and claims is used in its broad sense to denote any form articles and items, either unitary/stand-alone elements, bulk material, or grouped items, in any shape or form, either contained in any sort of container or packing of any shape or form. - 3 A primary aspect of the disclosure is a smart shelf system, wherein each one or more of a plurality of shelves is selectively displaceable over support poles, independently of other shelves, so as to suit the space above a particular shelf to height of goods placeable thereover, thereby to optimize storage space. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a shelf system comprising one or more shelves disposed between a pair of spaced apart vertically extending shelf supports, a vertical shelf locomoting system comprising at least one power unit and a shelf displacing mechanism associated with each of the shelves; said shelf displacing mechanism comprising a driver actuator articulated with each shelf and coupled with the power unit and engaged for displacing about a linear actuator fixed over at least one of the shelf supports; whereby said shelf locomoting system is configured for selectively displacing each shelf independently of other shelves. The term shelf as used here in the specification and claims is used in its broad sense to denote any form of rack, substantially horizontally extending rigid plane configured for placing items thereon, whether configured with a support bed or a being a frame or a grid. According to another aspect of the present disclosure there is a shelf system and shelving method utilizing a shelf system, the shelf system comprising a plurality of shelves each associated with a motorized shelf displacing mechanism for displacing each shelf along shelf supports, and a control system comprising a controller and an array of sensors indicative of the position and space available above each shelf, said controller configurable for generating an activating signal to the motorized displacing mechanism for selectively displacing each shelf independently of other shelves responsive to a desired space above a particular shelve, said desired space corresponding with minimal possible height of an article placeable on said particular shelve. Yet an aspect of the disclosure is directed to a storage method, the method comprises the following steps: a. Obtaining a shelf system and smart storge method comprising a shelf system comprising a plurality of shelves each associated with a motorized shelf displacing mechanism for displacing each shelf along shelf supports, and a control system comprising a controller and an array of sensors indicative of the position and space available above each shelf, said controller configured for generating an activating signal to the motorized displacing mechanism for - 4 selectively displacing each shelf independently of other shelves responsive to a desired space above a particular shelve, said desired space corresponding with minimal possible height of an article placeable on said particular shelve; b. Placing one or more gods on one or more shelves of the shelf system; c. Determining the minimal possible height required above a particular shelve, based on height of the one or more goods placed on said particular shelve; d. Vertically displacing the particular shelf or a shelf above said particular shelve, so that the available space above the particular shelf corresponds with the minimal possible height. Any one or more of the following features, designs and configuration can be applied to any one or more of the aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, separately or in various combinations thereof:  The vertical shelf locomoting system can be configured at one or both sides of a shelve;  The motorized shelf displacing mechanism can be configured with a single motor for each shelve, with one or more driver actuators articulated to the motor, directly or via a power transmission mechanism;  The motorized shelf displacing mechanism can be configured with two motors, each associated with one of a pair of the spaced apart vertically extending shelf supports;  The motorized shelf displacing mechanism can be configured with four motors, each two associated with one of a pair of the spaced apart vertically extending shelf supports;  The vertically extending shelf supports can be a single post engaged by a shelf displacing mechanism;  The shelf supports can be one or more support posts;  The vertically extending shelf supports can be a comprise two or more posts, at least two of which configured for engagement by a shelf displacing mechanism;  The shelf displacing mechanism can comprise a pinion gear articulated to the power unit and a gear rack articulated to at least one of the shelf supports; - 5  The shelf displacing mechanism can comprise a spur gear (straight-cut gear) articulated to the power unit and engaged with a spur rack articulated to at least one of the shelf supports;  The shelf displacing mechanism can comprise helical pinion and rack system;  The shelf displacing mechanism can comprise a screw/rotary actuator;  The screw actuator can be configured with a fixed screw shaft (lead screw) fixedly secured to a shelf support, and rotatable screw follower engaged with the power unit;  The shelf displacing mechanism can comprise a linear link/chain coupler, comprising a link track secured to a shelf support, and a gear engageable with said link track and articulated with said power unit;  The power unit can be any one or more of an electric motor, a pneumatic motor and a hydraulic motor, configured with a rotary output axis;  A shelf system comprises at least one shelf extending between a pair of spaced apart vertically extending shelf supports, and three coplanar shelf supports can support two shelves, each of which being independently displaceable from other shelves;  The controller system can comprise a processor configured for receiving any one or more shelf signals associated with the one or more shelves of the shelf system, power unit associated signals, and address signals associated with a vacant location or an occupied location at the shelf system;  The shelf signals can be any one or more signals corresponding with shelf positioning, shelf load, distance from neighboring shelve, distance from ceiling, distance from support floor surface, etc.;  The controller system can be configured for generating command signals to the power units, responsive to shelf signals and address signals;  The signals can be received from one or more sensors comprising image sensors and processors, optical beams, weight/pressure sensors, acoustic signals, etc.;  A goods assessment station can be provided for use in conjunction with the shelving system for providing indicia corresponding to the dimensions of the - 6 goods received for storage, wherein the goods assessment station is configured for obtaining measurements of the goods, upon which corresponding indicia is transmitted to the controller, whereat a signal is generated indicating an appropriate storage address namely at a particular shelf at a shelf system;  It is an object of the disclosed system to minimize dead space, namely space extending between a horizontal imaginary surface extending a topmost item of goods stored over a particular shelf, and a bottom surface of a neighboring shelf above said particular shelf;  A brake system can be associated with any one or more shelf, for safety arresting displacement of the shelf;  A brake system can be configured at the power units, for safety arresting displacement of an associated shelf;  The effective height of a storage address (i.e. between a bottom, goods bearing surface and a top surface) can be determined by the actual height of the goods to be stored at said storage address; it is appreciated the storage address can take place at any location of a shelf system: between two consecutive shelves, and between a ground surface and a bottom most shelf, and between a topmost shelf and a ceiling or top obstacle above the shelf system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A is a top perspective view of a shelf system, according to an example of the present disclosure, partially loaded with goods; Fig. 1Bis a front, planar view of the shelf system of Fig. 1A; Fig. 1C is a bottom, perspective view of the shelf system of Fig. 1A; Fig. 1D is the same as Fig. 1A, with goods removed; Fig. 2A is an enlarged view of the portion marked 2A in Fig. 1D, with a shelf board removed; Fig. 2B is an enlargement of the portion marked 2B in Fig. 1D; - 7 Fig. 3A is an enlarged view of the portion marked 3A in Fig. 1A, with a shelf board removed; Fig. 3B is an enlarged view of the portion marked 3B in Fig. 3A; Fig. 3C is a section along line 3C – 3C in Fig. 3A; Fig. 3D is an enlargement of the portion marked 3D in Fig. 3C; Fig. 3E is an enlargement of the portion marked 3E in Fig. 2A; Fig. 4is a top perspective view of a shelf system according to another example of the disclosure; Fig. 5Ais a perspective view, illustrating a row of shelves of a shelf system within a warehouse, according to an example of the disclosure; and Figs. 6A to 6C are schematic illustrations of shelf displacing mechanisms according to other examples.

Claims (24)

1.- 12

2.CLAIMS: 1. A shelf system wherein each one or more of a plurality of shelves is selectively displaceable over support poles, independently of other shelves, so as to suit the space above a particular shelf to height of goods placeable thereover, thereby to optimize storage space. 2. The shelf system of claim 1, comprising one or more shelves disposed between a pair of spaced apart vertically extending shelf supports, a vertical shelf locomoting system comprising at least one power unit and a shelf displacing mechanism associated with each of the shelves; said shelf displacing mechanism comprising a driver actuator articulated with each shelf and coupled with the power unit and engaged for displacing about a linear actuator fixed over at least one of the shelf supports; whereby said shelf locomoting system is configured for selectively displacing each shelf independently of other shelves.

3. The shelf system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of shelves each associated with a motorized shelf displacing mechanism for displacing each shelf along shelf supports, and a control system comprising a controller and an array of sensors indicative of the position and space available above each shelf, said controller configurable for generating an activating signal to the motorized displacing mechanism for selectively displacing each shelf independently of other shelves responsive to a desired space above a particular shelve, said desired space corresponding with minimal possible height of an article placeable on said particular shelve.

4. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vertical shelf locomoting system is configured at one or both sides of a shelf.

5. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf displacing mechanism is configured with a single motor for each shelve, with one or more driver actuators articulated to the motor, directly or via a power transmission mechanism.

6. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf displacing mechanism is configured with two motors, each associated with one of a pair of spaced apart vertically extending shelf supports.

7. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf displacing mechanism is configured with four motors, each two associated with one of a pair of spaced apart vertically extending shelf supports.

8. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein vertically extending shelf supports are a single post engaged by a shelf displacing mechanism. - 13

9. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf supports comprise be one or more support posts.

10. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein vertically extending shelf supports comprise two or more posts, at least two of which configured for engagement by a shelf displacing mechanism.

11. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf displacing mechanism comprises a pinion gear articulated to the power unit and a gear rack articulated to at least one of the shelf supports.

12. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf displacing mechanism comprises a spur gear articulated to the power unit and engaged with a spur rack articulated to at least one of the shelf supports.

13. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf displacing mechanism comprises helical pinion and rack system.

14. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf displacing mechanism comprises a screw/rotary actuator.

15. The shelf system of any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein a screw actuator is configured with a fixed screw shaft fixedly secured to a shelf support, and rotatable screw follower engaged with the power unit.

16. The shelf system of any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the shelf displacing mechanism comprises a linear link/chain coupler, comprising a link track secured to a shelf support, and a gear engageable with said link track and articulated with said power unit.

17. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one shelf extending between a pair of spaced apart vertically extending shelf supports, and three coplanar shelf supports can support two shelves, each of which being independently displaceable from other shelves.

18. The shelf system of claim 3, wherein the controller system is comprise a processor configured for receiving any one or more shelf signals associated with the one or more shelves of the shelf system, power unit associated signals, and address signals associated with a vacant location or an occupied location at the shelf system.

19. The shelf system of claim 18, wherein the shelf signals can be any one or more signals corresponding with shelf positioning, shelf load, distance from neighboring shelve, distance from ceiling, distance from support floor surface. - 14

20. The shelf system of claim 18, wherein the controller system is configured for generating command signals to the power units, responsive to shelf signals and address signals.

21. The shelf system of claim 18, wherein the signals are received from one or more sensors comprising image sensors and processors, optical beams, weight/pressure sensors, acoustic signals.

22. The shelf system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a brake system is associated with any one or more shelf, for safety arresting displacement of the shelf.

23. The shelf system of claim 3, wherein a goods assessment station is provided for use in conjunction with the shelving system for providing indicia corresponding to the dimensions of the goods received for storage, wherein the goods assessment station is configured for obtaining measurements of the goods, upon which corresponding indicia is transmitted to the controller, whereat a signal is generated indicating an appropriate storage address namely at a particular shelf at a shelf system.

24. A storage method comprises the following steps: a. Obtaining a shelf system and smart storge method comprising a shelf system comprising a plurality of shelves each associated with a motorized shelf displacing mechanism for displacing each shelf along shelf supports, and a control system comprising a controller and an array of sensors indicative of the position and space available above each shelf, said controller configured for generating an activating signal to the motorized displacing mechanism for selectively displacing each shelf independently of other shelves responsive to a desired space above a particular shelve, said desired space corresponding with minimal possible height of an article placeable on said particular shelve; b. Placing one or more gods on one or more shelves of the shelf system; c. Determining the minimal possible height required above a particular shelve, based on height of the one or more goods placed on said particular shelve; d. Vertically displacing the particular shelf or a shelf above said particular shelve, so that the available space above the particular shelf corresponds with the minimal possible height.